Killdeer!

We had actually gone to the museum in hopes that the historic village would be open. Only open for the two summer months, we were two days early.  But we were allowed to go out and wander the pathways through the village.

When the village is open during July and August, there are volunteers dressed in period clothing playing appropriate roles in every building.

I love cedar rail fences.  These are new of course, but are made with original rails and in the original zig-zag pattern.

The first building you come to is a reconstructed log cabin, usually the first type of dwelling built by white settlers.

This one has a small log barn beside it.

The next pair of buildings represent the house and barn that were built later in the 1800's when prosperity allowed, a story-and-a-half farmhouse and a big bank barn.  Both the house and barn are actual historic structures from nearby townships, moved here and restored.
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Then there was the one-room schoolhouse.  I'm intrigued with this building because my father taught in a one-room school just a couple of miles away.  This is a replica of a 1920's schoolhouse, modelled after S.S.#1 Derby Township.

The Bluewater Garage was modelled after several 1940's style rural automotive garages.  It's the only one of these buildings that I'll be able to get into when we go back this summer.  All the others have steps.

Then we heard the shrill whistle of the Killdeer and saw it sitting on the edge of the path just ahead.

We started paying attention when one bird started doing its 'broken wing display'.

The other was sitting on the ground nearby.

And then we saw it, a hollow in the gravel right at the edge of the path, with three small eggs, obviously a second brood for this summer.  I fear the parents are going to be pretty stressed when visitors start arriving in two days!

Rainforest Adventure

After lunch at the airport café, we decided to go see what was on at the museum.  We're members, might as well make use of it.  The newest exhibit is 'Under the Canopy: Animals of the Rainforest', which we hadn't seen yet.

Grey Roots Museum is one of the stops highlighted in Meaford's Big Red Chair tour, though I'm not sure why, as it's outside the municipality of Meaford.

 We were greeted by this rather severe looking fellow in the museum lobby.

We headed first to the rainforest animals exhibit.  There were two Reticulated Pythons, here coiled together.  They're found all over southeast Asia.

These are known as the longest snakes in the world, growing over 20 feet, but these two were only about 6 feet.  Very interesting patterns on their scales.

This Tokay Gecko had plastered itself against the wall of its enclosure.

This is a Veiled Chameleon, with a tongue almost as long as its body, that uncoils as it reaches out to grab prey.  Native to the Arabian Peninsula, but hard to photograph because of the bright light in its cage.

I didn't think of the Barn Owl as a bird of the rainforest, but its range extends over most of North and South America, so it certainly includes some tropical rainforest.

This exhibit is a travelling exhibit from Little Ray's Nature Centres, and we'd both say it was very well done.  Here a staff member from Little Ray's holds another gecko.  Interesting live animals, well done information panels, spectacular photographs, and a staff member there to answer questions (but I didn't get much chance to ask questions because of the children clammering to see things).  Apparently they come in with an entire package and provide everything for the museum.  It's here all summer, until September.  We were glad we took the time to see it.

Surprise Lunch

On Sunday after church we headed out for a drive.  We had only the vaguest plans, but as we approached the Billy Bishop Airport on the way to Owen Sound, we decided to stop there for lunch.  We've thought of stopping at the 'Crosswinds Cafe', and this was the opportunity.

Billy Bishop, who was born in Owen Sound, was the top Canadian and British Empire flying ace in WWI, even though he didn't start training as a pilot until half-way through the war. When he was finally posted to France it was said that the average life of a new pilot was 11 days.  Bishop won the Victoria Cross for his efforts, and his home in Owen Sound is now a museum.  Only 10 years ago the upstart bully, the City of Toronto renamed the Toronto Island Airport the Billy bishop Airport too.   Owen Sound refused to back down and retained the name here!

Crosswinds Café is a bright open restaurant, with great views of the runway and apron.  We enjoyed it enough that we went back again today.  It wasn't nearly as busy as it was on Sunday.

The planes started arriving shortly after we did.

'The Dam Pub' is named for the Dam Pub, a restaurant in Thornbury, where it did a flyover on Canada Day.  It came and went more than once while we were there.

Taxiing to the runway,

and off it goes.

Here the 'Dam Pub' returns to the airport beyond two aircraft parked on the apron.

We were surprised at how busy it was on Sunday, but it was quiet today.

Picnic by the Bay

On Saturday of the holiday weekend, Mrs. F.G. made some substantial delicious sandwiches and we took them down to the harbour for a picnic.  We sat on one of several benches and enjoyed our supper while watching the bay roll steadily in to the shore.

It was a beautiful day with just enough waves that you could hear the gentle sound of them lapping against the rocks.  You could see for miles under the cloudless sky.

This little park has a small sandy beach at both ends (which were quite busy), as well as nearly a dozen benches along the shoreline in between.

Across the bay the forest of masts made the marina look crowded.

Along the edge of the water both the bright blue Viper's Bugloss and a low yellow Sedum or Stonecrop crawling over the rocks provided flashes of colour.

The 'Great Gun', a full-size 24 pound cannon, sits ready to defend the harbour!  The plaque told me that this is an authentic replica of the type of cannon used in the War of 1812, donated to the town by a local foundry in 1978.  I picture the men of the foundry feeling bored and deciding "Ok, let's make a cannon just for fun!"

We walked on down to the harbour passing the boat gantry, used for lifting all the sailboats out of the water over the winter.  I'd like to be there sometime and see this work.

Along the way we passed our little town museum, with this 'totem pole' outside. I have to admit to having reservations about this, as the totem pole is only found among west coast native tribes, where the giant cedars for carving them are found.  As we all try to acknowledge more openly the indigenous community territories we live in (the Saugeen Ojibway Nation here), displaying a disconnected symbol like this with no explanation seems rather shallow to me.

We have seen west coast totems in several B.C. locations, and watched the carving process in two different native communities.  This totem is a toy-like representation in comparison.

We were surprised at the number of local folks visiting the harbour that day, including these paddlers.  Obviously it's a popular place to walk around, and I'm sure we'll be back for another picnic.

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I wish all my American readers a happy Independence Day, 

although I will be careful not to comment on the Washington festivities!

Great Canada Day Weekend!

We had a great (and busy) Canada Day weekend, even if I didn't get much time for blogging.  From a picnic on the shore to the rainforest exhibit at the museum, we were kept going.  Only regret is that we couldn't see the fireworks, 'cause of course my homecare comes to get me in bed at 8.30.

On Saturday Mrs. F.G. made delicious sandwiches, and we took them down to the shore for supper while we gazed out at the bay.  For this one we had to cancel homecare, 'cause we wouldn't be home for 7 o'clock, their scheduled time.

On Sunday we headed out for a serendipitous drive.  On the way we decided to stop in at the airport café for lunch, which was delicious.  And we watched several planes come and go.  This is one of those 'live' shots on an iPhone, but I think it works ok in this case.

Driving down the road we let serendipity take us where it would, and we ended up at Grey Roots Museum, where we're members.  We met this friendly fellow as part of the rainforest exhibit.

The historic village wasn't open for the season yet, but we could walk around the pathways.  This is a replica one-room schoolhouse.  I won't be able to get inside several of the buildings because they have steps.

Sunday evening homecare was scheduled for 7, but at 6.10 she called to see if she could come over for 6.30!  I managed to stay polite on the phone as I cancelled it, but my mind started churning with what I'd say to the scheduler.

On Monday, Canada Day, we headed for our own local community's celebrations down by the harbour.  You guessed it, I could not get on the Coast Guard ship, but I got a chance to ask questions of one of the crew which was interesting..

Then we walked out the pier past the sailboats, and enjoyed the view over the bay.

Meanwhile, back at home the garden and all the plants in pots on our deck continue to bloom.  Have a good week!

Happy Canada Day!!

We are always glad we live in Canada!  One of the most spectacular nations on earth IOHO.  We have seen the country from Newfoundland to the Yukon.  We never object to paying our taxes because the services we get make life better, and help those in need.  The chance to live in a peaceful and prosperous country is a blessing indeed.

Lots of flags in the neighbourhood.  These are the biggest and smallest respectively.

And this is our flsg.  Happy Canada Day!